Aa
procrit injection - and does it have to be done same day and same time each week
I did my first shot of procrit last week. I will do the procrit weekly on the same day - do I also have to do it at the same time each week? I was nicely surprised to see that the needle size is the same size as the pegasys needle (I had thought it would be bigger), but I was unpleasantly surprised by the burning feeling (but I can deal with that). I found it a little tricky getting the solution out of the vial....I was not sure how low to keep the needle point so that it is still in the solution as I am withdrawing the procrit into the needle. If I mess up and I don't withdraw enough solution, can I just put the needle back in the vial and draw some more out? And when you put the air into the vial from the syringe, do you put the air into the solution as I was not sure if that caused bubbles to form. Thanks. Ginger
thanks. i did my second procrit injection today....but i had a heck of a time with air bubbles forming in the procrit solution in the vial when i am drawing out the solution into the syringe. when i first start to withdraw the solution i get a big air bubble in the syringe, and then somehow when i push the plunger up to get rid of it...it must be creating clusters of small air bubbles in the vial solution....took some patience, but i was able to do ok...and was able to get out the full amount of procrit i needed (hopefully)....just not sure why i am causing so many air bubbles in the vial. in NYS i cannot get extra needles without getting the doctor to write up a presciption and when i tried that once before the extra needles did not come, and it held up the order. hope you are doing well.
ginger
you can call your specialty pharmacy and ask them to send more needles. I know I have used the same needle for both the plastic and my injection, but it is nicer to have a fresh one.
frijole
you can call your specialty pharmacy and ask them to send more needles. I know I have used the same needle for both the plastic and my injection, but it is nicer to have a fresh one.
frijole
hi...i did not get any extra needles. i am using the same needle (27ga, 1/2 inch) to withdraw as i do to inject. ginger
As frijole describes, this is exactly what the Hemo does for my neupogen injections. Also, the needle is slightly dulled when puncturing the stopper on the vial, so nice to have a sharp, fresh (smaller) needle for injection.
ginger,
the replacement needle is for your body. Since it has already dulled going through the plastic, the usual procedure is to replace that needle with a new one to use for the injection. The needle attached to the syringe to puncure the bottle is pretty big. The one used for the infejection is a 27ga, 1/2 inch. At least that is how the specialty pharma sends my meds.
My typing is awful -- I meant unscrew the needle, not unscreen the needle
the replacement needle is for your body. Since it has already dulled going through the plastic, the usual procedure is to replace that needle with a new one to use for the injection. The needle attached to the syringe to puncure the bottle is pretty big. The one used for the infejection is a 27ga, 1/2 inch. At least that is how the specialty pharma sends my meds.
My typing is awful -- I meant unscrew the needle, not unscreen the needle
thanks all for you help....i really appreciate it.
i am not reusing the vial....I draw one dose of 40,000 ml per vial so i don't need a replacement needle.
i look forward to the procrit eventually kicking in....i am really dragging.
take care everyone....ginger
i am not reusing the vial....I draw one dose of 40,000 ml per vial so i don't need a replacement needle.
i look forward to the procrit eventually kicking in....i am really dragging.
take care everyone....ginger
ginger
So glad you are getting going on this. I have had 3 injections so far, and just this week sw the first hgb increase - from 9.3 to 9.7. So it took a good two weeks for this to start having an impact.
I have been dealing with the same issues filling the syringe from the vial. I did procrit during my first treatment but it has been awhile, and I have to get the package instructions out and, you know what, the print is so very little it is hard to keep my place.
When you inject the air into the vial you do not inject it into the liquid, just the air. Don't pull the syringe out of the bottle. Leave it in while you see if you have the proper amount drawn up. Basically to me, you keep the needle as low down in the upside down vial while you are drawing back. I find myself lowering the needle, ever so slightly, to try to get almost every drop.
Did they give you another needle to replace the one that has gone through the vial plastic? You can actually unscreen the needle while it is still attached to the vial and then screw in the new needle.
It does burn and it does help to let the vial warm up about 20 minutes and inject very slowly.
frijole
So glad you are getting going on this. I have had 3 injections so far, and just this week sw the first hgb increase - from 9.3 to 9.7. So it took a good two weeks for this to start having an impact.
I have been dealing with the same issues filling the syringe from the vial. I did procrit during my first treatment but it has been awhile, and I have to get the package instructions out and, you know what, the print is so very little it is hard to keep my place.
When you inject the air into the vial you do not inject it into the liquid, just the air. Don't pull the syringe out of the bottle. Leave it in while you see if you have the proper amount drawn up. Basically to me, you keep the needle as low down in the upside down vial while you are drawing back. I find myself lowering the needle, ever so slightly, to try to get almost every drop.
Did they give you another needle to replace the one that has gone through the vial plastic? You can actually unscreen the needle while it is still attached to the vial and then screw in the new needle.
It does burn and it does help to let the vial warm up about 20 minutes and inject very slowly.
frijole
My understanding is that procrit is rather slow-acting; being off a day either way shouldn't make much impact and should be okay. As can-do suggests, warming the procrit to room temp and injecting slowly helps to take a lot of the sting out of it.
The trick I learned in trying to get most fluid out of the vial was to insert the needle at a 45 degree angle or so, and to tilt the vial as you withdraw -- gets the fluid into a corner instead of spread out over the entire surface of the vial cap. I usually tried not to re-insert the needle, just tap it to make the air bubbles rise, push them out, and draw in the rest of the fluid. Hope that helps, and good luck!
The trick I learned in trying to get most fluid out of the vial was to insert the needle at a 45 degree angle or so, and to tilt the vial as you withdraw -- gets the fluid into a corner instead of spread out over the entire surface of the vial cap. I usually tried not to re-insert the needle, just tap it to make the air bubbles rise, push them out, and draw in the rest of the fluid. Hope that helps, and good luck!
The time of day doesn't matter, and yes draw out all of the procrit. Lightly tapping the syringe should take care of the bubbles.
As for the burning, are you letting it warm to room temp and injecting it slowly. That should help alot.
As for the burning, are you letting it warm to room temp and injecting it slowly. That should help alot.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
